CONVICTED (2020) | notorious sectarian thug Kevin ‘Magwa’ Maguire, born 12/06/1982, of Muirdrum Avenue, Cardonald, Glasgow G52 3AP – punched three police horses during a football riot
Celtic fan Kevin Maguire, who owns Casey’s Cafe in Elderpark Street, Govan, Glasgow, was part of a mob that attacked police officers and their horses ahead of a Scottish Cup tie against Airdrie.
The father-of-four, who goes by the nickname ‘Magwa’ and has previous convictions for football-related violence, claimed during his trial that he was an innocent bystander.
But Sheriff John McCormick told him: “You were in fact one of the ringleaders of this mob.”
Police officer Sergeant Mark Stewart attended the match and he described the violence as the “worst riot” he had ever seen.
“When I got there, Airdrie fans were being blocked from getting into the ground by Celtic fans,” he said.
“There were families trying to get in and bricks and missiles getting flung as well as spitting and throwing lit cigarettes.
“It was very aggressive and this was the worst riot I had ever seen.”
The officer told the court that Maguire was “directing others” during the violent incident and said he saw him attack the three police horses outside the ground.
He added: “I asked him to move and he punched my horse Oban on the muzzle which caused him to react.
“It was a full-blown punch and he also punched police horse Glasgow on the face.”
Sgt Stewart said another police horse Nerston was also punched later on.
Maguire was described as a “prime mover” in the violence orchestrated against police.
Lawyer Michael McKeown, representing Maguire, unsuccessfully urged the sheriff not to jail his client.
Mr McKeown said: “He has got significant family responsibility. He is looking after his young baby and three other children.
“He works as an engineer and earns £600 a week. That employment is still open to him. He also has a business interest in a cafe.”
The court heard that Maguire told social workers who compiled a report on him that he was on ‘an alcohol binge and had no memory of the offence.
The court had heard that Maguire was previously banned from every football ground in the UK.
He was also out on bail at the time of the police horse attack in January 2019.
Maguire was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to police horses Nerston, Oban and Glasgow, assaulting two police officers and acting in a threatening and abusive manner.
Sentencing: 10 months in prison. Banned from every football ground in the UK for a further five years.
Update September 2022
Maguire, now of Drumchapel in north Glasgow, appeared in court charged with stealing the city’s Commonwealth Games mascot. The trial is set for January 2023.